Swimming exercise device

ABSTRACT

An improved swimming exercise device primarily includes a device body, a pendulous device, arm stroke gears and elastic devices and is characterized that a supporting surface is provided on the device body for supporting an abdominal region of a user lying prone thereon, so as to allow the user to transversely wiggle his/her upper-half body and vertically swing his/her legs more coordinately, stably and smoothly. The improved swimming exercise device is also is characterized that fixing devices are provided on front and rear portions of the device body, respectively, for fixing the pendulous device and the elastic devices, so that the pendulous device and the elastic devices can be prevented from unpredictable moves that might otherwise happen and frighten the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to swimming exercise devices, and more particularly to an improved swimming exercise device that overcomes certain shortcomings of the prior art and is characterized by having additionally a supporting surface and fixing elements on its device body for supporting a user's trunk and fixing pendulous and elastic component of the swimming exercise device, respectively.

2. Description of Related Art

The present inventor has previously invented a swimming exercise device which was recognized U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,103B2 and published on Oct. 13, 2009. Referring to FIG. 1, the prior-art swimming exercise device has a device body A, a pendulous device B, two arm stroke gears C and two elastic devices D. The body A comprises a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion has one end connected to one end of the rear portion and a space is formed between the front portion and the rear portion. The pendulous device B is disposed in the space. One end of the pendulous device B is pivoted on the front portion and the other end thereof is pivoted on the rear portion for a human body to lie down and swing arms. The arm stroke gears C are respectively at both sides of the front portion of the body for a user to simulate swimming strokes by swinging his/her arms. Said elastic devices D are respectively pivoted on the upper edge of the rear portion of the body for a user's legs to swing up or down or laterally.

However, in practical use, the prior-art device provides no support to a user's trunk thereon. This is likely to cause the user to have difficulty to coordinate his/her transversely wiggling upper-half body and vertically swinging legs, thus unable to perform smooth movements. Furthermore, the pendulous device tends to tilt and rock when the user tries to get on or off its flat-top, and such unpredictable moves can undesirably frighten the user. In view of these shortcomings, the present inventor believes that the patented swimming exercise device needs to be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving the prior-art device, the present invention herein provides an improved swimming exercise device after his continuous researches and tests. According to the present invention, an improved swimming exercise device includes a device body that has a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion has one end connected to one end of the rear portion, and a space is formed between the front portion and the rear portion, while the rear portion is atop formed with a supporting surface for supporting an abdominal region of a user lying prone thereon; a pendulous device that is disposed in the space and has one end pivotally connected to the front portion and an opposite end pivotally connected to a front edge of the supporting surface; two arm stroke gears that are respectively on tops of both sides of the front portion; and two elastic devices that are set abreast and respectively pivotally connected to an upper rear edge of the supporting surface.

The disclosed improved swimming exercise device is characterized by the supporting surface that separates the pendulous device from the elastic devices, so that with his/her abdominal region supported by the supporting surface, the user can transversely wiggle his/her upper-half body and vertically swing his/her legs more coordinately, stably and smoothly. Moreover, the front portion and the rear portion of the device body are additionally provided with fixing members for fixing the pendulous device and the elastic devices, respectively, so that the pendulous device and the elastic devices can be prevented from unpredictable moves that might otherwise happen and frighten the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming exercise device of U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,103B2;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an improved swimming exercise device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates operation of the pendulous device of the improved swimming exercise device;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the arm stroke gear of the improved swimming exercise device;

FIG. 5 illustrates the elastic device of the improved swimming exercise device in terms of configuration and operation;

FIG. 6 illustrates the first fixing member of the improved swimming exercise device in terms of configuration and operation; and

FIG. 7 illustrates operation of the second fixing member of the improved swimming exercise device;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 through 5. As depicted, an improved swimming exercise device according to the present invention has a device body 1. The device body 1 includes a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12. The front portion 11 has one end is such connected to one end of the rear portion 12 that space 13 is formed therebetween. The rear portion 12 is atop formed with a supporting surface 14. The improved swimming exercise device also has a pendulous device 2 disposed in the space 13. The pendulous device 2 has one end pivotally connected to the front portion 11 and an opposite end pivotally connected to a frond edge of the supporting surface 14. There are two arm stroke gears 3 coming in pair and deposited respectively at two sides of the front portion 11 of the device body 1. In addition, there are two elastic devices 4 coming in pair and pivotally connected to an upper rear edge of the supporting surface 14. The improved swimming exercise device is characterized that the device body 1 additionally has the supporting surface 14 that separates the pendulous device 2 from the elastic devices 4. The supporting surface 14 can stably support an abdominal region of a user lying prone thereon, so that the user can transversely wiggle his/her upper-half body and vertically swing his/her legs more coordinately, stably and smoothly.

The front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 of the device body 1 are connected by a slot 112 and a raised piece 122, thereby the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 are able to be flexibly linked and elastically activated. Said pendulous device 2 comprises at least two springs 21 respectively disposed on two sides in the space 13, a flat-top 22 that is disposed between the front portion 11 and the supporting surface 14 and has two opposite bottom edges respectively connected to tops of the springs 21. Two shafts 23 are respectively disposed on different two correspondent sides of the flat-top 22. By the shafts 23, the flat-top 22 has the two correspondent sides pivotally connected between the front portion 11 and the supporting surface 14 and is able to transversely swing.

In addition, an opening 224 is formed on one end of the flat-top 22 enabling a human to lay his/her face thereon. The opening 224 is placed on the tip of the front portion 11. The flat-top 22 has two adjustable mechanisms 24 disposed on two correspondent sides. Each of the adjustable mechanisms 24 consists of a groove 242 and a raised piece 244. The combination of the groove 242 and the raised piece 244 enables the flat-top 22 to flexibly activate.

The paired arm stroke gears 3 each have: a lateral plate 30; at least one roller 31 each having a shaft 312 affixed to the lateral plate 30; a driving belt 32 placed over the exterior of the roller 31; a coupling member 33 having one side thereof connecting one side of the front portion 11 of the body 1 and a reverse side pivotally connected to one side of the lateral plate 30; and a connecting rod 34 having one end coupled with the coupling member 33 for sliding through the combination of a slide groove 342 and a raised piece 334 and having an opposite end pivoted on an opposite side of the lateral plate 30, thereby enabling said connecting rod 34 and said coupling member 33 to be elastically activated. Plural coupling portions 322 are set on the surface of the driving belt 32 for a user's fingers to hold and swing his/her arms.

The coupling member 33 has one side thereof connects one side of the front portion 11 of the body 1 through a groove 332 and a raised piece 114, thereby enabling the coupling member 33 and the front portion 11 of the device body 1 to be elastically activated.

Each of the paired elastic devices 4 comprises a base plate 41, which has one side thereof set a shaft 42 that is pivotally connected to an upper rear edge of the supporting surface 14; a leg cushion 43 having the bottom thereof slidably coupled to the upper surface of the base plate 41 by a sliding mechanism 44; a spring 45 mounted around the shaft 42 for providing a restoring force, wherein the spring 45 is a torsion spring.

Alternatively, the spring 45 may be deposited between the base plate 41 and an outer side of the rear portion 12 of the device body 1(inclined plane 124), wherein the spring is a compression spring (not shown), and the sliding mechanism 44, which is consisted of a sliding piece 442 and a slide rail 444.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a first fixing member and a second fixing member according to the present invention. In the disclosed swimming exercise device, the device body 1 has its front portion 11 additionally provided with a first fixing member 5 for fixing the flat-top 22 of the pendulous device 2, so that when the user tries to get on or off the flat-top 22 of the pendulous device 2, the flat-top 22 is held from tilt and rock, and unpredictable moves that might otherwise happen and frighten the user can be prevented. In addition, when the swimming exercise device is not in use, the first fixing member 5 can position the pendulous device 2 and make the pendulous device 2 unable to pendular, so that the pendulous device 2 can be used as a seating chair. The first fixing member 5 comprises a pin 51 and a hole 52 formed on the front portion 11 of the device body 1 for the pin 51 to be inserted therein.

The fixing member may alternatively be a rotatable supporting structure 53 disposed in the space 13 for supporting the flat-top 22. Many other structures may be implemented to fix the flat-top from moving, and just a few were named above.

Moreover, the rear portion 12 of the device body 1 of the disclosed swimming exercise device further has a second fixing member 6 for fixing the elastic device 4. The second fixing member 6 uses a rotatable supporting structure 61 to support and hold the elastic device 4 in position.

New characteristics and advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Changes in methods, shapes, structures or devices may be made in details without exceeding the scope of the invention by those who are skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved swimming exercise device, comprising: a device body having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein one side of the front portion is coupled to one side of the rear portion so that a space is formed between the front portion and the rear portion, and the rear portion is formed atop with a supporting surface; a pendulous device that is disposed in the space and has one end thereof pivoted on the front portion and an opposite end thereof pivoted on a front edge of the supporting surface; two arm stroke gears, disposed respectively on both lateral sides of the front portion of the device body; two elastic devices, pivotally disposed respectively, side by side, on an upper rear edge of the supporting surface; and a first fixing member, disposed on the front portion of the device body for fixing a flat-top of the pendulous device; the improved swimming exercise device being characterized in that the supporting surface on the device body separates the pendulous device from the elastic devices, so that the supporting surface serves to support an abdominal region of a user lying prone thereon, and with the abdominal region supported by the supporting surface, the user is allowed to transversely wiggle his/her upper-half body and vertically swing his/her legs more coordinately, stably and smoothly and the improved swimming exercise device being characterized in that the fixing member disposed on the front portion of the device body serves to fix the pendulous device so as to selectively hold the pendulous device from being pendulous.
 2. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein the front portion and the rear portion are coupled by a slot and a raised piece, so that the front portion and the rear portion are flexibly linked.
 3. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein the pendulous device comprises: at least two springs, which are disposed correspondingly in the space; and the flat-top disposed between the front portion and the supporting surface, wherein two lateral sides of the flat-top body on a bottom thereof are respectively coupled to the springs on the top thereof, and two shafts are respectively disposed on front and rear sides of the flat-top so that the front and rear sides of the flat-top are respectively pivoted on the front portion and the front edge of the supporting surface.
 4. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 3, wherein the flat-top body forms an opening on one end suitable for a human face to lay thereon and the opening is disposed on a tip of the front portion.
 5. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 3, wherein the flat-top has adjustable mechanisms disposed on two laterally corresponding sides thereof, enabling the flat-top to be flexed.
 6. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 5, wherein each of the adjustable mechanisms comprises a groove and a raised piece.
 7. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the two arm stroke gears comprises: a lateral plate; at least one roller, each having a shaft that is installed onto the lateral plate; a driving belt, being placed over an exterior of the at least one roller; a coupling member, having one side thereof connected to one side of the front portion of the device body and a reverse side thereof being pivotally connected to one side of the lateral plate; and a connecting rod, having one side thereof slidably connected to the coupling member through a combination of a slide groove and a raised piece, and having an opposite side thereof pivotally connected to an opposite side of the lateral plate, thereby enabling said connecting rod and said coupling member to be pivotable relative to each other.
 8. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 7, wherein the driving belt has plural coupling portions set on a surface thereof for the user's fingers to hold and swing his/her arms.
 9. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 7, wherein the coupling member has on side thereof that connects to one side of the front portion of the device body by coupling a groove and a raised piece together, thereby the coupling member and the front portion are able to be pivotally coupled together.
 10. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the elastic devices comprises: a base plate, a pin joint portion disposed on one side of the base plate to be coupled to the upper rear edge of the supporting surface; a leg cushion having a bottom thereof slidably coupled to an upper surface of the base plate via a sliding mechanism; and a spring mounted around the pin joint portion so as to provide a restoring force.
 11. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 10, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.
 12. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the elastic devices comprises: a base plate, a pin joint portion disposed on one side of the base plate to be coupled to the upper rear edge of the supporting surface; a leg cushion having a bottom thereof slidably coupled to an upper surface of the base plate via a sliding mechanism; and a spring deposited between the base plate and an outer side of the rear portion of the device body so as to provide a restoring force.
 13. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 12, wherein the spring is a compression spring.
 14. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 10, wherein the sliding mechanism comprises a sliding piece and a slide rail that fittingly engage with each other.
 15. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein first fixing member comprise a pin and a hole formed on the front portion of the device body that fittingly engage with each other so as to fix the flat-top of the pendulous device.
 16. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first fixing member uses a rotatable supporting structure disposed in the space of the device body to support and fix the flat-top of the pendulous device.
 17. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 1, wherein the rear portion of the device body further has a second fixing member for fixing the elastic device.
 18. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 17, wherein the second fixing member is a rotatable supporting structure for supporting and fixing the elastic device.
 19. The improved swimming exercise device of claim 12, wherein the sliding mechanism comprises a sliding piece and a slide rail that fittingly engage with each other. 